Waples v. Hayes 108 U.S. 6 (1882)

U.S. Supreme Court

Waples v. Hayes, 108 U.S. 6 (1882)

Waples v. Hayes

Decided November 6, 1882

108 U.S. 6

Syllabus

1. A mortgaged real estate in New Orleans to B. Proceedings being taken against it under the Confiscation Acts as the property of A, B intervened. The estate was condemned and sold to C, and the proceeds paid to B under decree of court. After the death of A, suit was brought on behalf of his heirs to recover possession of the property. Held that C acquired the life estate of A, that the heirs of A were entitled to recover, and that neither the United States nor C was subrogated to the rights of B; also

2. That under the practice of Louisiana, C could not, after going to trial on the petition, object that it was defective by reason of not setting forth the deed under which he claimed title.

On the 7th of August, 1863, proceedings were begun in the District Court of Louisiana for the condemnation of three lots of ground in New Orleans seized under the Act of July 17, 1862, 12 Stat. 589, c. 195, as the property of Harry T. Hays. The property when seized was encumbered by a mortgage from Hays to E. A. Bradford. On the 27th of November, 1863, Bradford appeared in the suit in response to the monition and filed a petition of intervention, in which, after setting up his mortgage, he asked to have his rights recognized as superior to the United States, and that the property confiscated might be sold and the proceeds applied to the payment of what was due to him. On the 23d of January, 1865, a sentence of condemnation was entered and a sale ordered, "the proceeds to be distributed according to law, the legal rights of the intervenors being reserved for further action hereafter." An order of sale was issued to the marshal on the same day the sentence of condemnation was granted. On the 23d of February, a judgment was entered on the intervention of Bradford, in which it was "ordered, adjudged, and decreed that there be a judgment in his favor for the sum of $6,000, . . . with special mortgage upon the three lots." After this judgment was entered, the marshal sold the property under the sentence of condemnation to Waples, the plaintiff in error, for $6,000, and on the 27th of March all the proceeds except what were required for the costs, charges, and taxes were paid over to Bradford "in part satisfaction of his judgment and mortgage." The United States realized nothing from the condemnation. Harry T. Hays having died, the present suit was brought on behalf of his children to recover the possession of the property from Waples. Upon the trial, the foregoing facts appearing, the court charged the jury that the plaintiffs were entitled to a verdict. The verdict having been rendered in accordance with the charge and a judgment given thereon against Waples, he brought this writ of error.

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